Couple encourage more LGBT+ members to foster

According to the New Family Social, same-sex couples now account for 1 in 7 adoptions in England, however, there is unfortunately still a lingering expectation of discrimination among the LGBT+ community when it comes to fostering.

YouGov has shown that 8 in 10 lesbian, gay and bisexual people expect to encounter barriers to become foster carers because of their sexual orientation.

One couple who are breaking down the barriers surrounding LGBT+ fostering is Andy, 53, and Ran, 47, who have recently welcomed their first child into their home.

The couple, who have always had a desire to foster children, were approved as foster parents in November 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant that their initial meetings with the child they were about to care for were all virtual, as Andy reveals; “Welcoming Jessica* came with its challenges due to the pandemic, but we didn’t let that stop us and continued with the process, thanks to the fantastic ongoing support we received from ISP.”

He added: “The process took around six months, and during that time we received group and one to one training, which we found extremely enjoyable. Normally, we would meet Jessica* face-to-face, take some time out to enjoy day trips together. However, due to coronavirus we weren’t able to visit initially, so we introduced ourselves virtually via numerous video calls.”

The pandemic has made fostering difficult for all parties involved, but Andy explains how the couple have made it a success: “Jessica was amazingly confident, she sang for us and was very grown up, telling us what she liked and what she didn’t like. We spoke about our family and her family and really got a feel for each other during the video calls.”

He continues; “We produced a welcome book for Jessica, including photos of ourselves and our pets, and gave her a virtual tour around the house. It gave her a chance to familiarise herself with her new surroundings, so it wouldn’t be so daunting for her when she arrived. Once lockdown restrictions eased, we arranged to meet Jessica face-to-face, while socially distancing. After this meeting, the process had been finalised and we ended up picking her up the following Thursday!”